Ascetically and size customizable towel for the beach

ABSTRACT

An aesthetically and size customizable towel for the beach, which includes at least two towel sections, and apparatus for interchangeably attaching the at least two towel sections to each other edge-to-edge to form a generally coplanar towel so as to allow the generally coplanar towel to be size customizable. The at least two towel sections are interchangeably attached to each other edge-to-edge to form the generally coplanar towel so as to allow the generally coplanar towel to be size customizable. The at least two towel sections have decorative patterns thereon so as to allow the generally coplanar towel to be aesthetically customizable.

1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a towel for the beach, and more particularly, an embodiment of the present invention relates to an aesthetically and size customizable towel for the bed.

B. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous innovations for towel related devices have been provided in the prior art, which will be described below in chronological order to show advancement in the art, and which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention in that they do not teach an aesthetically and size customizable towel for the beach.

(1) U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,912 to Damus et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,912 issued to Damus et al. on Aug. 15, 1989 in U.S. class 383 and subclass 4 teaches a beach towel that is selectively convertible to a tote bag or beach bag. The towel has upper and lower surface portions with a generally annularly oriented pull cord substantially confined therebetween but extending outwardly on opposite sides of the towel so that as the outwardly extending portions of the pull cord are raised, the central portion of the towel surrounded by the pull cord will form a carrying pouch having an opening which is closed by the pull cord. In one embodiment, the upper surface of the beach towel may also be provided with indicia that is simulative of the face of a sun dial whereby a person or a separate shoulder strap associated with the beach towel may be utilized as the gnomon of the sun dial to indicate approximate time of day when the beach towel is properly oriented.

(2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,229 to Eberhart.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,229 issued to Eberhart on May 28, 1991 in U.S. class 5 and subclass 417 teaches a pocketed beach towel includes pockets at the corners and a weight in a sealed package for each pocket. Each pocket also functions as a hidden receptacle for personal effects and valuables by including a closeable opening that simulates a permanent closure.

(3) U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,806 to Bythewood et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,806 issued to Bythewood et al. on Jul. 19, 1994 in U.S. class 428 and subclass 73 teaches a puzzle towel/mat for bath, beach, and kitchen includes a plurality of irregularly shaped pieces having interlocking sides to match up with each other, so as to form one complete unit when fitted together. A mechanism is for retaining the interlocking sides of the plurality of irregularly shaped pieces together when matched up with each other, so as to keep the one complete unit together to be utilized.

(4) U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,789 to Walker.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,789 issued to Walker on Aug. 15, 1995 in U.S. class 428 and subclass 78 teaches an attachable type beach towel and chair cover combination for being attached to virtually all types of outdoor seating apparatus. The combination includes a elongated substantially rectangularly shaped main body portion of textile fabric beach towel having a pair of side edges and a pair of ends. At the ends are four attaching straps permanently attached at end portions and spaced inwardly from the side edges and four corresponding attaching tabs permanently attached to main body of the beach towel spaced inwardly from the side edges and end portions. The attaching straps and the attaching tabs are a hook and loop type fastening system. Two attaching straps and two corresponding attaching tabs are on opposite sides of the central axis parallel to the side edges and to the central axis parallel to the ends of the beach towel, thus making the location of each attaching strap and its corresponding attaching tab generally symmetrical to the others. Included are four peel and stick attaching tabs that are of the component of the hook and loop type fastening system that corresponds with the permanently attached attaching straps. The four peel and stick attaching tabs are adhered to the appropriate locations designated by the location of the attaching straps when the attachable type beach towel and chair cover combination is laid out on the type of seating apparatus where there is no frame or strapping to attach to.

(5) U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,461 to Schwender.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,461 issued to Schwender on Jul. 16, 1996 in U.S. class 5 and subclass 420 teaches a sun bathing towel system including a towel member and a plurality of stake members. The towel member has a perimeter and a plurality of towel eyelet members that define a like number of towel eyelet apertures. The towel eyelet members are located adjacent the perimeter of the towel member. Each of the stake members has a shaft portion and a detachably connectable cap portion. The cap portion has a broad top cap surface to prevent injury to any inattentive sun bather who may accidently step upon the stake member. In preferred embodiments, the sun bathing towel system further includes a liner member, a support pole structure connectable with the towel member for supporting a portion of the towel member in a lean-to type fashion, and an elongated flexible carrying strap. Food and drink items may be stored under the lean-to portion of the towel member to protect them from excessive exposure to the sun and the towel member maybe configured into a tote/carrying bag configuration and carried with the carrying strap.

(6) U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,234 to Daniels.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,234 issued to Daniels on Nov. 21, 2000 in U.S. class 297 and subclass 229 teaches a beach chair towel retaining system that includes a beach towel for covering a beach chair. An upper stretchable band resiliently surrounds both the upper portion of the towel and the upper portion of the beach chair and retains the upper portion of the towel on the surface of the upper portion of the beach chair. A lower stretchable band resiliently surrounds both the lower portion of the towel and the lower portion of the beach chair and retains the lower portion of the towel on the surface of the lower portion of the beach chair. Each of the upper and lower stretchable bands includes a bunchable towel material encasing an elastic material. A saddle bag includes a strip with a pocket for item storage at each end rests on top of the intermediate portion of the towel, with one of the pockets hanging on one side of the intermediate portion of the beach chair and the other of the pockets hanging on the other side to retain the intermediate portion of the towel on the intermediate portion of the beach chair. A pillow and a pocket are detachably attached to the outer surface of the upper stretchable band.

(7) U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,605 to Swagger, Jr.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,605 issued to Swagger, Jr. on Oct. 15, 2002 in U.S. class 5 and subclass 420 teaches a beach mat for maintaining a beach towel in a flat deployed position provides a barrier to the movement of sand onto the towel surface, and includes spaced side members interconnected at their ends by spaced end members and having an inner periphery defining a generally rectangular central opening. In one embodiment, the frame is filled with self-inflating resilient foam and has an air valve for allowing expulsion of air during compaction of the frame and maintenance of the frame in compacted condition for transportation and storage. In another embodiment, the foam frame is folded for transportation and storage. Handles and a cup holder are provided. The frame provides a large upper surface for placement of advertising or other indicia for display.

It is apparent that numerous innovations for towel related devices have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the embodiments of the present invention as heretofore described, namely, an aesthetically and size customizable towel for the beach.

2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, an object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an aesthetically and size customizable towel for the beach, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

Briefly stated, another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an aesthetically and size customizable towel for the beach, which includes at least two towel sections, and apparatus for interchangeably attaching the at least two towel sections to each other edge-to-edge to form a generally coplanar towel so as to allow the generally coplanar towel to be size customizable. The at least two towel sections are interchangeably attached to each other edge-to-edge to form the generally coplanar towel so as to allow the generally coplanar towel to be size customizable. The at least two towel sections have decorative patterns thereon so as to allow the generally coplanar towel to be aesthetically customizable.

The novel features considered characteristic of the embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the present invention themselves, however, both as to their construction and to their method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

3. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the aesthetically and size customizable towel of an embodiment of the present invention on the beach and utilizing a pair of towel sections;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the aesthetically and size customizable towel of an embodiment of the present invention on the beach and utilizing four pairs of towel sections;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the aesthetically and size customizable towel of an embodiment of the present invention identified by ARROW 3 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and having a set of snap and hook and loop fastener mechanisms of the attaching apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the aesthetically and size customizable towel of an embodiment of the present invention identified by ARROW 4 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and having a set of snap fastener mechanisms and hook and loop fastener strap mechanisms of the attaching apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the aesthetically and size customizable towel of an embodiment of the present invention identified by ARROW 5 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and having a set of snap mechanisms and a set of button mechanisms of the attaching apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a strap of the attaching apparatus of the present invention identified by ARROW 6 in FIG. 4 utilizing snaps; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a strap of the attaching apparatus of the present invention identified by ARROW 7 in FIG. 4 utilizing button holes.

4. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

A. General.

-   10 aesthetically and size customizable towel of embodiment of     present invention for beach 12 -   12 beach

B. Overall Configuration of Aesthetically and Size Customizable Towel 10.

-   14 at least two towel sections -   16 attaching apparatus -   18 generally coplanar towel -   20 decorative patterns on at least two towel sections 14

C. Specific Configuration of First Embodiment of Attaching Apparatus 116.

-   112 set of snap fastener mechanisms of attaching apparatus 116 -   114 at least two towel portions -   116 attaching apparatus -   123 set of hook and loop fastener mechanisms of attaching apparatus     116 -   124 edges of at least two towel portions 114

D. Specific Configuration of Second Embodiment of Attaching Apparatus 216.

-   214 at least two towel portions -   216 attaching apparatus -   222 set of snap fastener mechanisms of attaching apparatus 216 -   223 set of strap mechanisms of attaching apparatus 216 -   224 edges of at least two towel portions 214

E. Specific Configuration of Third Embodiment of Attaching Apparatus 316.

-   314 at least two towel portions -   316 attaching apparatus -   322 set of snap fastener mechanisms of attaching apparatus 316 -   323 set of button mechanisms of attaching apparatus 316 -   324 edges of at least two towel portions 314

F. Specific Configuration of Second Embodiment of Set of Strap Mechanisms 423 of Attaching Apparatus 416.

-   416 attaching apparatus -   423 set of strap mechanisms of attaching apparatus 416 -   432 strap of attaching apparatus 416 -   433 set of snap fastener mechanisms of attaching apparatus 416 -   434 ends of strap 432 of attaching apparatus 416

G. Specific Configuration of Third Embodiment of Set of Strap Mechanisms 523 of Attaching Apparatus 516.

-   516 attaching apparatus -   523 set of strap mechanisms of attaching apparatus 516 -   532 strap of attaching apparatus 516 -   533 set of button holes of attaching apparatus 516 -   534 ends of strap 532 of attaching apparatus 516

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A. General.

Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, which are, respectively, a diagrammatic perspective view of the aesthetically and size customizable towel of an embodiment of the present invention on the beach and utilizing a pair of towel sections, and a diagrammatic perspective view of the aesthetically and size customizable towel of an embodiment of the present invention on the beach and utilizing four pair of towel sections, the aesthetically and size customizable towel of an embodiment of the present invention is shown generally at 10 for the beach 12.

B. Overall Configuration of the Aesthetically and Size Customizable Towel 10.

The overall configuration of the aesthetically and size customizable towel 10 can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The aesthetically and size customizable towel 10 comprises at least two towel sections 14 and attaching apparatus 16. The at least two towel sections 14 are interchangeably attached to each other edge-to-edge to form a generally coplanar towel 18 so as to allow the generally coplanar towel 18 to be size customizable, and have decorative patterns 20 thereon so as to allow the generally coplanar towel 18 to be aesthetically customizable. The attaching apparatus 16 is for interchangeably attaching the at least two towel sections 14 to each other edge-to-edge to form the generally coplanar towel 18 so as to allow the generally coplanar towel 18 to be size customizable.

The decorative pattern 20 for each towel section 14 is either the same or different.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the beach towel is formed by utilizing two of the at least two towel sections 14 so as to allow the generally coplanar towel 18 to be size customizable.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the beach towel is formed by utilizing eight of the at least two towel sections 14 so as to allow the generally coplanar towel 18 to be size customizable.

C. Specific Configuration of a First Embodiment of the Attaching Apparatus 116.

The specific configuration of a first embodiment of the attaching apparatus 116 can best be seen in FIG. 3, which is a diagrammatic top plan view of the aesthetically and size customizable towel of an embodiment of the present invention identified by ARROW 3 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and having a set of snap and hook and loop fastener mechanisms of the attaching apparatus, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The attaching apparatus 116 comprises a set of snap fastener mechanisms 112 and a set of hook and loop fastener mechanisms 123. The set of snap fastener mechanisms 112 of the attaching apparatus 116 and the set of hook and loop fastener mechanisms 122 of the attaching apparatus 116 are disposed along all edges 124 of the at least two towel sections 114.

D. Specific Configuration of a Second Embodiment of the Attaching Apparatus 216.

The specific configuration of a second embodiment of the attaching apparatus 216 can best be seen in FIG. 4, which is a diagrammatic top plan view of the aesthetically and size customizable towel of an embodiment of the present invention identified by ARROW 4 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and having a set of snap fastener mechanisms and hook and loop fastener strap mechanisms of the attaching apparatus of the present invention, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The attaching apparatus 216 comprises a set of snap fastener mechanisms 222 and a set of strap mechanisms 223. The set of snap fastener mechanisms 222 and the set of strap mechanisms 223 of the attaching apparatus 216 are disposed along all edges 224 of the at least two towel sections 214.

A first embodiment of the set of strap mechanisms 223 of the attaching apparatus 216 include hook and loop fastener mechanisms.

E. Specific Configuration of a Third Embodiment of the Attaching Apparatus 316.

The specific configuration of a third embodiment of the attaching apparatus 316 can best be seen in FIG. 5, which is a diagrammatic top plan view of the aesthetically and size customizable towel of an embodiment of the present invention identified by ARROW 5 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and having a set of snap mechanisms and a set of button mechanisms of the attaching apparatus of the present invention, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The attaching apparatus 316 comprises a set of snap fastener mechanisms 322 and a set of button mechanisms 323. The set of snap fastener mechanisms 322 and the set of button mechanisms 323 are disposed along all edges 324 of the at least two towel sections 314.

F. Specific Configuration of a Second Embodiment of the Set of Strap Mechanisms 423 of the Attaching Apparatus 416.

The specific configuration of a second embodiment of the set of strap mechanisms 423 of the attaching apparatus 416 can best be seen in FIG. 6, which is a diagrammatic top plan view of a strap of the attaching apparatus of the present invention identified by ARROW 6 in FIG. 4 utilizing snaps, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The set of strap mechanisms 423 of the attaching apparatus 416 comprises a strap 432 and a set of snap fastener mechanisms 433. The set of snap fastener mechanisms 433 are disposed along ends 434 of the strap 432.

G. Specific Configuration of a Third Embodiment of the Set of Strap Mechanisms 523 of the Attaching Apparatus 516.

The specific configuration of a third embodiment of the set of strap mechanisms 523 of the attaching apparatus 516 can best be seen in FIG. 7, which is a diagrammatic top plan view of a strap of the attaching apparatus of the present invention identified by ARROW 7 in FIG. 4 utilizing button holes, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The set of strap mechanisms 523 of the attaching apparatus 516 comprises a strap 532 and a set of button holes 533. The set of button holes 533 are disposed along ends 534 of the strap 532.

H. Impressions.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in an aesthetically and size customizable towel for the beach, however, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention. 

1. An aesthetically and size customizable towel for the beach, comprising: a) at least two towel sections; and b) means for interchangeably attaching said at least two towel sections to each other edge-to-edge to form a generally coplanar towel so as to allow said generally coplanar towel to be size customizable; wherein said at least two towel sections are interchangeably attached to each other edge-to-edge to form the generally coplanar towel so as to allow said generally coplanar towel to be size customizable; wherein said means is disposed along all edges of said at least two towel sections; wherein said at least two towel sections have decorative patterns thereon so as to allow said generally coplanar towel to be aesthetically customizable; and wherein said means includes: either a set of snap fastener mechanisms; and a set of hook and loop fastener mechanisms; wherein said set of snap fastener mechanisms of said means and said set of hook and loop fastener mechanisms of said means are disposed simultaneously along all edges of said at least two towel sections; or a set of snap fastener mechanisms; and a set of strap mechanisms; wherein said set of snap fastener mechanisms and said set of strap mechanisms of said means are disposed simultaneously along all edges of said at least two towel sections; or a set of snap fastener mechanisms; and a set of button mechanisms; wherein said set of snap fastener mechanisms and said set of button mechanisms are disposed simultaneously along all edges of said at least two towel sections.
 2. The aesthetically and size customizable towel for the beach of claim 1, wherein said decorative pattern for each towel section is one of same and different.
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. The aesthetically and size customizable towel for the beach of claim 1, wherein said set of strap mechanisms of said means include hook and loop fastener mechanisms.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The aesthetically and size customizable towel for the beach of claim 1, wherein said set of strap mechanisms of said means includes a strap; wherein said set of strap mechanisms of said means includes a set of snap fastener mechanisms; and wherein said set of snap fastener mechanisms are disposed along ends of said strap.
 8. The aesthetically and size customizable towel for the beach of claim 1, wherein said set of strap mechanisms of said means includes a strap; wherein said set of strap mechanisms of said means includes a set of button holes; and wherein said set of button holes are disposed along ends of said strap. 